Flourless Chocolate Cake

 

Calling all chocolate lovers - this recipe is delicious and would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner.  I have not made a flourless cake in a while and could not find the recipe I remember using, but this one I found on Pinterest is better and simpler to make.

I think my old recipe needed a springform pan, but this one just used a regular cake pan and parchment paper for ease of removal.  It came right out of the cake pan once cooled and the rich frosting/glaze covered any imperfections.  In fact, I put it on a pretty cake stand to take to a dinner party and it looked like a bakery dessert and tasted like one too.

The only changes I made were to use 1/2 milk chocolate chips and 1/2 dark chocolate chips for a less sweet cake.  Next time I make this, I may add some espresso too.

I served it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and fresh raspberries, but it would be delicious with homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on the side.  It is very rich and chocolaty, so small pieces are more than enough for most people.  

Enjoy!

Spicy Strawberry Balsamic Jam

 

I am hosting a pre dinner happy hour on Thursday and decided to make this recipe as one of the appetizers I am preparing.  I love a sweet and spicy combination and thought it also would look really pretty and festive on a platter with some rosemary as garnish.  

Even though I am not making a lot of appetizers since we are here for a short time, it makes my day of prep easier since this could be made in advance.  Making a small batch jam like this couldn’t be easier and I did other things while it cooked, just remembering to stir it now and then by setting a timer.  After it cooled, I placed it in a freezer jam jar and in that kind of container, it will be good for several months.

A sneaky taste was required to see how spicy it was and I am happy to say it has a kick, but nothing crazy.  It is the perfect little bite and will go great with the Prosecco I am serving.  To serve, spoon over a block of cream cheese and pair with a good quality, crunchy cracker or a toasted baguette slice.

Happy holiday entertaining!

Tomato Jam

There is a phrase going around instagram called “girl dinner”. It means not cooking a traditional meal, but just putting something light and snacky together in the evening like cheese and crackers and some fruit. More and more, that is how I like to eat dinner and luckily my husband does too.  

When I saw this recipe for Tomato Jam, I decided to try it as a yummy “girl dinner” idea.  It was really easy to make and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.  My idea was to take a toasted baguette, spread it with a soft cheese and finally the tomato jam on the top. 

It was the perfect little bite.  Flavorful, slightly spicy and also with a crunch factor from the toasted bread.  It is a perfect pairing with a glass of wine too.  Savory jam was not on my radar, but this recipe has me wanting to scroll Pinterest for more ideas.

Happy Wednesday!

Crushed Pineapple Muffins

 

Not only because I live in Florida, but tropical flavors are my favorite.  Give me all the key lime, mango and pineapple in food, desserts and cocktails and I am happy.  At my favorite restaurant in Key West, I always order the pineapple pancakes and these are very similar.

These muffins are very easy and quick to make in the morning and perfect for a summer weekend breakfast treat.  You could add all kinds of extras like banana, coconut and nuts to give them a little texture, but I kept it simple this time.  

Serve with fresh tropical fruit for a cheerful breakfast that will make you feel like you are on vacation.

Recipe here

Ricotta Banana Nut Bread

I made lasagna for dinner recently and there was a container of ricotta cheese in my fridge needing to be used.  Remembering this recipe on one of my Pinterest boards, it sounded delicious and an excellent use of the ricotta.  I always pick sweet over savory and I just can’t help myself.

It was a typical banana bread recipe with a few twists.  The ricotta made the wet ingredients very creamy which was a good thing.  Also, I have never made banana bread without mashing the bananas.  This recipe called for chopping them.  It made for great banana flavor.  

The only change I made was to use pecans instead of walnuts, because that is what I had in my pantry.  I also broke in my new williams-sonoma loaf pan which made it very pretty before cutting.

Have a great weekend - maybe with this banana bread and your morning coffee :-)

Apple Upside Down Cake

 

Apple Upside Down Cake

I have not moved on to pumpkin flavors yet, because October to me, is all about apples.  If I could find a way to get some freshly picked Michigan apples (specifically Empire) I would be happy, but for baking, the grocery store offerings are just fine.

This recipe is one of those that looks harder to make than it is.  It makes a really pretty presentation when you flip it over on the plate and I was happy to see that it came out easily and did not stick.  I followed the recipe exactly, except in addition to the cooking spray, I dusted the bundt pan lightly with flour, because that is what my mother and grandmother  taught me :)

As far as the flavor, it was so good.  The spice cake mix, the cider and the apples and brown sugar, all combine for fall on a plate.  It is quite moist too.  My husband and I won’t eat a big cake, so I plan to share with some neighbors.  

We have been experiencing lovely weather in Florida with blue skies and slightly cooler temperatures.  Enjoy your Monday and this last week of October.

Broccoli Cheddar Noodle Casserole

 

Another thing I find I am late to the party for is Half Baked Harvest recipes.  She is big with the twenty something crowd i.e. my daughters.  Once I started following her on Instagram, I found myself pinning her daily recipe stories a lot.  But, this is the first recipe I have actually tried.  I would call it a partial success.  Find the recipe here.

Here is what I would do different next time.  First, I did make it without the chicken in the original recipe, just because I am trying to eat less meat and it is fine either way.  Second, definitely add more liquid (chicken broth and milk both) and don’t let all the liquid absorb before putting it in the oven to finish.  It needs that extra liquid while baking or it becomes quite dry.  The flavor was A+ and I will make it again, with these changes.

It is an easy, quick and family friendly recipe, just right for busy fall nights.

Happy Friday!

Valentine’s Breakfast - Orange Ricotta Dutch Baby Pancake

 

This recipe  is one I found on Pinterest when searching for ways to use up some Ricotta cheese.  I was expecting to find Italian dishes or desserts, but this breakfast idea sounded even more delicious and something I have not tried before.  I love sweet versus savory when it comes to breakfast and you can always substitute Truvia (for baking) if you are watching your sugar intake (as a diabetic I always do this).

The orange flavor was subtle and the ricotta gave the pancake a slightly custard like texture which was absolutely delicious.  I did not use syrup - just fresh strawberries and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.  A quick strawberry compote (heat strawberries, sugar and water until thickened) would also be delicious.  Also, it took minutes to put together and get in the oven, so that is a win as well if your mornings are busy.

Wouldn’t this be a pretty breakfast to serve on Valentine’s weekend?  

Happy Monday!

Simple Strawberry Bread

It’s strawberry season in Florida which will always be weird to me since it is winter and not summer, but no matter, because fresh, local strawberries are always welcome.  I had some that needed to be used and this bread sounded like a delicious way to go.  It really was simple (chopping the strawberries took the longest) and I loved the flavor, because it was not too sweet.  Only one half cup of sugar, so the sweetness comes from the strawberries.  I did add the glaze, but that is up to you.  Doesn’t it look pretty though?  

Strawberry season may be a ways away for most of you, but get some from the grocery store produce aisles and bring a little sunshine to those cold, gray days.

The recipe can be found here.

Happy Friday!  I will actually be in snowy and cold Michigan by the time you read this.  A trip to Michigan in January - what was I thinking lol.

Baked Blueberry Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts

 

Looking for something special for your holiday weekend breakfast, with all the flavors of summer?   I spotted this recipe on Half Baked Harvest’s feed and knew it was one that I wanted to try.  It has been awhile since I have used my doughnut pan, but baked doughnuts are such a delicious way to enjoy fresh doughnuts at home without making a morning run to the doughnut shop.

This is a really simple and quick recipe and has a great technique for amplifying the flavor of any fruit based baked doughnut.  The secret is to swirl jam in the batter as a last step.  This compliments the fresh berries and keeps the batter moist.   And, I can’t begin to describe how heavenly my kitchen smelled while these were baking.

These are best fresh from the oven and freshly dipped in the cinnamon and sugar. But, don’t worry - they are so delicious your family won’t leave many for later.

Happy beginning of summer, Happy Memorial Day weekend and God Bless America!

Easy Carrot Cake Muffins

Pinterest came through again with a easy and delicious recipe that was just what I was looking for.  My friend had to spend the night in the hospital and I wanted to drop off a little something to help her feel better. Muffins or banana bread are my go to for something like this, and I chose this recipe for two reasons.  I know she loves carrot cake and anything with carrot as the main ingredient is perfect for the Easter season.

Carrot Cake can be dry and muffins had the potential to be even drier, but I knew the addition of crushed pineapple would help with that.  And, cake mix recipes are the best if you want easy.

This recipe took minutes to put together and I couldn’t resist trying one before I packed them up.  A dollop of cream cheese frosting was the perfect amount of sweetness.  These are a winner, either at Easter time or really all spring and summer.  Find the original pin here.

Enjoy!  

Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

 

It’s the start strawberry season in Florida.  It will forever be strange to me that strawberry season happens in Florida during the winter months, because June is strawberry season in Michigan.  There are Florida strawberries at great prices at the grocery stores, as well as farm fresh quarts at the Farmer’s Market.  Of course we all eat strawberries year around now, but there is nothing better than fresh, local fruit in season.

I made this delicious baked oatmeal with some of the Farmer’s Market strawberries I bought and it was full of flavor.  Making baked oatmeal of any variety is a favorite of mine because it’s quick and easy to put together as well as refrigerating well for multiple days of a delicious breakfast.  Just pop a piece in the microwave and it tastes like it is just out of the oven.

The recipe can be found here and also, by entering “baked oatmeal” in my search box, you will find many other baked oatmeal recipes in many flavors.

Enjoy!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

This is a great recipe.  I am a diabetic with somewhat of a sweet tooth.  My trick is to not deprive myself, but practice portion control.  So, one cookie; not 3.  

Finding a cookie recipe that cuts the carbs, but still has authentic peanut butter cookie taste and texture is a game changer for me.  It was so quick and easy to put these together with just four ingredients and all four are pantry staples.  I used regular sugar this first time making the recipe, but want to try the Splenda for baking that I normally use to cut the carbs even more.  Hopefully the texture will remain the same.  About 5 grams of carbs per cookie with regular sugar.

I followed the recipe exactly, except in my oven the cookies were done in 10-11 minutes.  Make these today and you won’t be sorry.  Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Glazed Turkey Meatballs

I still use Pinterest quite a bit;  mostly as a recipe file.  I don’t get nearly the page views anymore  from recipes I post and don’t feel like it’s the great blogging tool it used to be.  But, it’s still fun. If you like to try new recipes like I do, there is always something new that sounds delicious.  Sometimes I go back and look at my boards and think, why have I not made this or that recipe.  This meatball recipe is one of those.

Saucy meatballs are really not a favorite and if you want to serve something on a platter, this is a great recipe for that.  I did not make my own meatballs like the recipe calls for, but used a good quality frozen brand and they were just fine.  The star of this recipe is the glaze.  It coats the meatballs with a sweet, vinegary flavor and if you bring this to a party, get ready for the compliments.

To serve, I lined the glazed meatballs up on a platter and stuck a cocktail toothpick in each one.  To keep warm, you could easily place in a microwave over the course of the party, but room temperature is also fine. They look very festive and your guests can easily grab and go.

Enjoy!

Life Lately

First a note: there seems to be a bug going around Blogger and I am unable to upload photos from 
my mobile device (iPad) and the app I use.  It looks like it is a known issue, but I may have to figure something else out until it's fixed. So, here is a post with just one photo, just for today.


When we first moved to Florida, I couldn't have imagined how full and busy my life would become. And, there are still a few more things I want to get involved in and I'm sure more friends to be made. I love being active and there really is so much to do when the weather is nice all the time.

We are really enjoying getting together from time to time with a new friend group of local MSU alumni and fans to watch the football and basketball games. If we can't be tailgating on campus or attending games at the Breslin Center, it's the next best thing. It was our turn to have everyone over Monday night and it was a fun group and a great win. I made fajitas and a pitcher of margaritas, which we enjoyed while watching the basketball game. Here's to continued success for our Spartans and a deep run in March Madness.


I have been going to yoga on Venice beach on various mornings, but I went to the sunset class last week and it was as wonderful as it sounds. The peace that's comes with a yoga practice and the sun setting into the Gulf of Mexico in the background, is something not be be missed. Life is good in Florida.

On Tuesdays, I golf with a group of ladies in my neighborhood and it has been so much fun and a great way to really connect. It's very informal and we mix up the pairings each week, so you are always golfing with someone new. The snowbirds are back, so our group is bigger again and after golf, we always enjoy a glass of wine at the clubhouse. And, slowly, but surely, with consistent golf, my game is coming back.

It has been awhile since I used my doughnut pan for oven baked doughnuts, but I saw a recipe for Old Fashioned Sour Cream doughnuts on Pinterest and I was in the mood for a quick and simple glazed style doughnut. These are really good and by baking, you reduce the fat. I also used Truvia to reduce the sugar, but unfortunately, the powdered sugar in the glaze kind of cancels that out. So, like I always say, indulge, but practice portion control. Life is short - eat a doughnut when you want. Recipe and original pin here.

Olive Pizza Appetizer

 

 

 

This is a recipe that I pinned ages ago, but decided to try when I needed to take an appetizer to a football watching party. Do you do that with pins on Pinterest? You pin something that looks really good, but the pin languishes on one of your boards until it occurs to you that yes, you pinned it for a reason.

So, to describe this I'm going to reference that veggie appetizer that was so popular maybe fifteen years ago with a cresent roll base. This is very similar, but the base is pizza crust and the topping is a mixture of green olives, black olives and kalamata olives. (I used refrigerated pizza dough) You need to be an olive lover to enjoy this, but if you are, the flavor of the three kinds of olives together is delicious. I also like that the cream cheese layer incorporates fresh chopped parsley. It really brightens the flavor.

If you love olives, give this one a try the next time you need a quick, simple appetizer that has a wow factor. The original pin and recipe can be found here.

Happy Thursday!

 

{ Linking with these friends}

Stonegable

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

 

December So Far

 

 

It's a busy month, but I'm very thankful for that extra week on the calendar this year, after Thanksgiving and before December 1st. It gave us all a chance to recover and move forward, with a bit of a pause. My shopping is almost done, except for some small items and I'm just waiting patiently (or maybe impatiently) for all my packages to arrive, so I can wrap and ship them to Michigan. I am a big on line shopper and do not miss the days of marathon trips to the mall, carrying heavy shopping bags and overheating in my winter coat. With free shipping and cyber Monday discounts, it's a no brainer for me.

 

 

On Monday, I hosted a luncheon for my yoga group. There are a core group of us that are there every week, since the beginning and I wanted to get us out of the clubhouse for a change. I had everything ready before I left, so it would be easy and stress free when I returned after yoga. I kept things simple with soup, two salads and rolls. I also served two kinds of sangria - a red and a white. The red sangria was Pinot Noir, with apples, oranges, grapes limes, simple syrup, club soda and a cinnamon stick. The white sangria was Sauvignon Blanc, apples, cranberries, simple syrup, club soda and a sprig of rosemary. The recipes can be found on my Fun Drinks Pinterest board.

 

 

The Creamy Tomato Basil Soup I served, was so good. It's my second time making this recipe and I'm sure it won't be the last. It's perfect for company, because you can make it ahead of time in the crock pot and serve when you are ready. The original pin can be found here.

 

 

Wednesday night was the monthly girls night out at our clubhouse. We tried something different this month and ordered some food in, rather than all bring something to share. It was a great idea in this busy season. These girl's nights have been a great addition to the neighborhood calendar and such a good way to casually meet neighbors. We have new people moving in all the time and snowbirds that come and go, so it's important to keep connections open.

 

 

 

My book group met last night and I led the discussion of Little Fires Everywhere. It is a great book for an interesting and lively discussion, with several different themes throughout; including motherhood, adoption, cultural differences and life in suburbia. This book came to my attention from Reese Witherspoon, who picks a book each month, similar to what Oprah used to do. It's interesting that her picks seem to be gaining some cachet and are noted on Amazon as such.

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope to do a post with my Christmas decor next week.

 

{ Linking with these friends}

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

Stonegable

Thanksgiving Place Cards: Pumpkins and Seashells

 

 

 

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about Florida style fall decor. I decided to take one of the ideas (this pin) and make place cards for my table. The idea was much more coastal looking with white pumpkins, but pumpkins in general are scarce here in Florida, especially this late in the season, when everyone has moved on to Christmas. Also, buying a pumpkin early here is asking for one that needs to be thrown out by Thanksgiving. I was happy to find some mini orange ones on Saturday and was especially happy to find some with long stems.

 

 

Here is what I did: cut tags (free hand) from card stock that coordinated with the tablecloth I planned to use, poke a hole with a wooden skewer, feed orange striped butcher's twine through hole, tie a knot, then make a loop to fit over stem, glue a small seashell in top corner and write name with a sharpie. I had all of these items on hand, so only purchased the pumpkins. Note: you could easily adapt this idea and use any pattern of card stock and glue something totally different in the corner as well.

I will use some other seashells on my table, so this year, it will be a real mixture of traditional fall decor and the unexpected.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

{ Linking with these friends}

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

Stonegable

Apple Brownies

 

 

 

What's in a name? Apparently for me, a lot. Wanting to use a bowlful of apples on my kitchen counter, I started scrolling through Pinterest looking for a quick and easy apple recipe, maybe a cake or some type of bar. I happened upon a few recipes for Apple Brownies and I was intrigued. They really should be called Apple Blondies (no chocolate), but for me, Apple Brownies just seemed more fun.

They were easy to put together and I was happy to see they were loaded with chopped apples. As usual, I used Truvia sugar equivilents to make these a little more diabetic friendly. No other changes were made, but these would also be delicious with whole wheat flour. And, the scent when these were baking was heavenly. The original pin and recipe can be found here.

These brownies are delicious and have just enough sweetness to satisfy any sweet tooth. The thickness of the batter helps keep the apples from sinking to the bottom, so there were plenty of apples in every bite. Serving suggestion: Serve a warm apple brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Autumn on a plate!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

{ Linking with these friends}

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

Stonegable

Pineapple Salsa

 

 

 

In my last post, I promised to post the recipe for the yummy salsa I made to take to a football watch party. Now, this is not something I would have made to take tailgating on a chilly fall day in Michigan, but here in Florida; perfect. Or, if you just need a little sunshine and some tropical goodness to brighten your day.

The pineapple here in Florida is really good and fresh right now, but pineapple is a fruit that you can find year round, so no worries there. To save time chopping, I bought the red onions and peppers pre chopped, so this was really easy to put together. I did not add a jalapeño, but added a few drops of Tabasco instead. That way I could control the heat a little better. My dish was clean when I left the party, so that's a sign of successful recipe to me.

The original pin and recipe can be found here. I did not serve the salsa in the half pineapple, but how great does it look. Maybe next time :-)

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

{ Linking with these friends}

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

Stonegable